Comparison between the geological settings of the Varbitsa (NW Bulgaria) and Bure (SE France) sites for geological disposal of radioactive waste

Pages: 
pp. 57-65
Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract: 

Geological settings are of major importance in selecting appropriate environment for disposal of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. Clay rocks are preferred in a number of countries as a suitable host rocks due to their insulating properties and ability to self- seal cracks and other disturbances. In Bulgaria, on the basis of multi-criterion comparative analysis, several prospective sites have been selected for further consideration. One of them is the Varbitsa site located in the Fore-Balkan Unit. The marls of the Sumer Formation are the host rock. Similar clay host rocks for high-level radioactive waste disposal have been extensively studied in France, Switzerland and Belgium. In this context, the experience gained in these countries is particularly valuable for the further development of the geological disposal in Bulgaria. The current paper presents a comparison between the geological settings of the Varbitsa site (NW Bulgaria) and the Bure site (SE France), whose argillites are similar to the Bulgarian marls. The outcomes of this comparison would be useful for planning and conducting future research activities, as well as for the public acceptance of the geological disposal.

Keywords: 

Varbitsa (NW Bulgaria) and Bure (SE France) sites, geological disposal, high-level radioactive waste

DOI: 
10.52321/GeolBalc.51.1.57

VOLUME 51 (1)/April 2022

Institute of Earth Sciences, Ilia State University, 77 Ntsubidze Str., 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia
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Faculty of Mining and Geology, Georgian Technical University, Kostava Str., 0175 Tbilisi, Georgia
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Institute of Earth Sciences, Ilia State University, 77 Ntsubidze Str., 0177 Tbilisi, Georgia
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Faculty of Mining and Geology, Georgian Technical University, Kostava Str., 0175 Tbilisi, Georgia

Geological Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Geological Institute Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

Department of Geology, Palaeontology and Fossil Fuels, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Geological Institute of Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Economic Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria

Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Geological Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 24, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Department of Geology, Palaeontology and Fossil Fuels, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1504 Sofia, Bulgaria
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Institute of Mineralogy and Crystallography, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Bl. 107, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria